Pato O'Ward rallies to win Dual II of IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix for hospitalized teammate

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From podium finish to race winner, Pato O’Ward overtook Josef Newgarden in the final three laps Sunday to win his second checkered flag of the season in Dual II of the Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle.

O’Ward, who drives for Arrow McLaren SP, finished third in Saturday's first race of the weekend doubleheader.

O'Ward and the entire Arrow McLaren team raced with teammate Felix Rosenqvist fresh on their minds after the Swede endured a violent crash in Saturday's Dual I.

“This is team Chevy territory," said O'Ward who started 16th on Sunday after winning the pole for Saturay's opener. " I'm so excited. I'm so pumped to get (Rosenqvist) this. I texted (Felix) this morning. The important thing that he's okay,” O’Ward said about his teammate who spent the night at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

“I told him, I'm gonna win it for you. So this is for him.”

Pato O'Ward celebrates after winning the pole for Saturday's Detroit Grand Prix Dual I at Belle Isle.
Pato O'Ward celebrates after winning the pole for Saturday's Detroit Grand Prix Dual I at Belle Isle.

Rosenqvist tweeted Saturday night that he was recovering. "I'm doing ok, except a lot of soreness! Thanks for all the messages and to the IndyCar medical staff for looking after me."

Former Arrow McLaren driver Oliver Askew replaced Rosenqvist in the No. 7 Chevrolet for Sunday's race. In 2020, Askew drove 12 of the season's 14 IndyCar races, which included three top-10s and a season-best 3rd-place in Race 1 at Iowa, for AMSP.

Team Penske's Newgarden earned the pole Sunday morning and relinquished the lead on lap 67 when O'Ward made a move on the outside and pulled away for the remaining three laps.

Alex Palou was third Sunday, followed by Colton Herta and Graham Rahal.

There were no red flags, but Chip Ganassi driver Jimmie Johnson and Dale Coyne racing Romain Grosjean spun out, warranting caution yellow flags. Johnson stalled on Turn 2 on lap 54, and Grosjean’s brakes caught fire with 11 laps remaining.

After eight races, O’Ward is the first repeat champion of the IndyCar Series, and the win propelled him to first overall in IndyCar standings, leading Palou by one point.

Marcus Ericsson notched his first IndyCar win in Saturday's Dual I.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pato O'Ward rallies to win Dual II of Detroit Grand Prix for teammate